Ayudha Puja

Ayudha Puja
Image of the goddess Durga
Also called	Ayudha Puja also observed as Saraswati Puja
Observed by	Hindus
Celebrations	Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Pooja
Observances	Veneration of implements, machines, weapons, books and musical instruments
Begins	Ayudha Puja on Navami (ninth) day in Navaratri
2016 date	10 October
Frequency	annual
Related to	Dasara or Navaratri or Golu

Ayudha Puje (Kannada: ಆಯುಧ ಪೂಜೆ) is an integral part of the Navratri festival (festival of triumph), a Hindu festival which is traditionally celebrated in India. It is also called "Astra Puja", the synonym for Ayudha Puja. In simple terms, it means “Worship of Implements”. It is celebrated in Karnataka (in erstwhile Mysore State) as “Ayudha Puje” (Kannada: ಆಯುಧ ಪೂಜೆ),in Andhra Pradesh as Aayudha Pooja (Telugu: ఆయుధ పూజ), in Kerala as Ayudha Puja (Malayalam: ആയുധ പൂജ), "Astra Puja" or "Ayudha Puja" in Orissa, and in Tamil Nadu as Ayudha Pujai (Tamil: ஆயுத பூஜை). The festival falls on the ninth day or Navami of the bright half of Moon's cycle of 15 days (as per Almanac) in the month of September/October, and is popularly a part of the Dasara or Navaratri or Durga Puja or Golu festival. On the ninth day of the Dasara festival, weapons and tools are worshipped. In Karnataka, the celebration is for killing of the demon king Mahishasura by goddess Chamundeshwari. After slaying of the demon king, the weapons were kept out for worship. While Navaratri festival is observed all over the country but in South Indian states, where it is widely celebrated as Ayudha Puja, there are slight variations of worship procedure.